Campaign for 2nd phase of UP Assembly polls ends

Campaigning for the second phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections covering 59 seats spread over nine districts came to an end today.

Campaigning for the second phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections covering 59 seats spread over nine districts came to an end on Thursday.

"Campaigning for the second phase of elections, polling for which will be be held on February 11, has ended," joint chief electoral officer Anita Meshram told reporters.

She said nine districts where polling would be held on Saturday are Sant Kabir Nagar, Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia and Ghazipur.

"More than 1.92 crore voters, including 1.07 crore men and 87.38 lakh women are expected to cast their votes," she said.

Meshram said 1,098 candidates are in the fray.

The JCEO said that to ensure free and fair elections adequate force, including central forces, would be deployed.

She said that from today up to end of polling there would be ban on exit or opinion polls.

The second phase would decide the fate of many senior leaders, including speaker Sukhdeo Rajbhar, revenue minister Phagu Chauhan, state presidents of BSP and BJP, deputy leader of SP Ambika Chaudhary, 31 MLAs and 24 former ministers.